I think those four categories closely mirror the expense categories that concern me most when I plan my budget for travel expenses in Europe. Of course, as someone who rarely uses taxis and still has not managed to use Uber, or any ride-sharing service, I expand the category of ‘taxi’ to ‘transportation’. In my travels, transportation usually means public transportation for travel to and from airports and city/regional transportation by bus, train, metro. Generally I get around most cities in Europe simply by walking. That is why my focus is generally getting a city hotel in a central location for where I want to explore.

Hotel

Meal

Beer

Transportation

The Matador article on expensive European capital cities and Shelli’s follow-up question are interesting to me based on my own travel experiences for the 5 most expensive cities on the list. I visited each of the 7 most expensive cities in Europe (Meltzer ranking) since autumn 2014.

While I find the actual ranking of these cities as the five most expensive cities is debatable based on my personal ranking, that is not the main issue here. The main point I want to share with readers is the most expensive cities in Europe are not necessarily prohibitively expensive, even if you are traveling on a budget.

Hotels are the biggest daily expense by far. I see deals in all these cities that most travelers can also use to plan budget travel for a vacation in Europe’s most expensive cities.

Carrefour Market in shopping mall located on the France border located midway between Marriott hotel in Cap d’Ail France and downtown Monaco 20 minutes walk away. Start and end of my days generally at Carrefour for food and beer. Prices comparable to a California market. Breakfast at hotel.

Beer: $3 large bottles of beer in Monaco market at bottom of hill from palace on The Rock. I wasn’t the only one sitting in public squares drinking beer or wine purchased from a store.

Transportation: Monaco is a small country. I walked across Monaco, from the border with France in the west to the border with France in the east side of the country taking my time sightseeing over the course of a few hours as I walked the coastline. Then I walked back to the Marriott hotel in France just outside the western border of Monaco.

Train between Nice and Monaco was under 4 EUR each way.

Stayed two nights in Nice, France with a flight into and out of France via Nice Airport NCE. Best Western So’Co Nice cost 8,000 points. Days Hotel Nice cost $80 and earned 8,500 Wyndham Rewards points.

Hotels cost far less in Nice and Monaco is an easy day trip as an alternative to booking the limited available lodging in Monaco.

Seeing $500+ per day as the average expense for a trip to Monaco is intimidating for a traveler on a budget. I managed four nights in Monaco and Nice for $310 all-in, while the cost to visit Monaco was about $85 per day for my hotel stay in Cap d’ail and beer in food from local markets. Walking around Monaco for two days was amazing and inexpensive, despite hanging around in the midst of all the conspicuous wealth.

Monaco and Nice, France Loyalty Traveler trip report October 2017

Marriott Riviera La Porte de Monaco on the waterfront Hotel is technically in France, but basically in the city of Monaco, across the street from the country border in a mostly residential area of Monaco called Fontvieille. Shopping center Carrefour supermarket ten minutes walk from hotel. Great location. I stayed 2 nights in a Deluxe Sea View (yacht parking lot view) with a $115 bid in a Marriott charity auction I won in 2016.

Le Rocher is a cool small town located on the same rock of Monaco where the royal palace is located. Small lanes between low rise buildings creates crowded streets in the day when loads of tourists are visiting. This is a cruise ship tour favorite for the city.

Le Rocher felt very cool as I was one of the few visitors walking around at sunset on a Monday evening in October.

Monaco is about 4 km across along the coast from its western border with France to its eastern border with France. I spent about six hours walking and checking out the coastline from Marriott Riviera La Porte de Monaco to Le Meridien Beach Plaza near the eastern border of Monaco.

Ric Garrido of Monterey, California started Loyalty Traveler in 2006 for traveler education on hotel and air travel, primarily using frequent flyer and frequent guest loyalty programs for bargain travel.
Loyalty Traveler joined BoardingArea.com in 2008.